Coin handling apparatus



ifiled Dec. 23, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor:

Nov. 4, 1947. K R. F. BRoussARD 2,430,384

- CIN HANDLING APPARATUS Y Filed Dep; A25, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 .zzvezz tor:

Atto ya Patented Nov. 4, 1947 UNITED STATE S PATE NT OFFICE colN HANDLING APPARATUS vRobert F. Broussard, Houston, Tex., assignor to Duncan Meter Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a. corporation of Illinois Application December 23, 1946, Serial No. 717,836

. particularly the present improvements have to do with the construction of the coin receiver whereby its inlet and loutlet is maintained closed toy the passage of coins in or out so long as it remains out of operative relation with the machine, and with a container with which it is designed to cooperate for effecting a discharge of coins thereinto. When installedin the machine, the inlet, is open; when tted to the container, the outlet is open; when out of operative relation with both of these associated units, `Athe receiver -is closed against the passage of coins either inor out. The coin receiver which I have devised with these protective features is simple vand dependable. It may be employed with safety and assurance to all concerned so that the collector who is to transfer the accumulated coins in the machine to the container will have no opportunity to touch, or even see, the coins which he is instrumental in handling.

A suggestive embodiment of this invention is -set forth in the accompanying drawing in the manner following:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View` of a coin operated machine in the form of a parking meter, together' with an adjacent-mobile container into which coins accumulated in the machine are designed to be transferred;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in section through the top of the container, showing the coin receiver `fitted operatively in position for discharge offv coins thereinto;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation, partly broken away in section, showing the receiver closed against the passage of coins in or out;

Fig. 4 is a View in elevation, partly broken away to exhibit certain parts in section, showing the coin receiver in operative position within a coin operated machine such as the parking meter illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the inlet end of the receiver; 4

Fig. 6 is a View in elevation of the opposite end of the receiver wherein is fitted a key operated 106k;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the receiver, taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail in longitudinal lsection showing the receiver inlet end as it ap-` l s claims. (cl. 23e- 16) pears whenv installed in a. coin operated machine designed for cooperation therewith;

Fig. y9 is a similar view, taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 7; A

Figs. 10- and 11 are views in perspective, partly broken away in section, of two coacting members which form the gate at the inlet end of the receiver; an'd Fig. 12 is a detail in section `showing the relation of these two gate members to each other and to the receiver when the .inlet passageway4 is closed.

By way of example, a. coin operated machine M in the form of a parking meter is shown in Fig. 1. It is providedwith a. coin entry slot I5 connected by a suitable chute or otherwise with a separating plate I6 having a slot |1 through which descending coins are guided in any appropriate way.

Below the separating plate is the usual chamber for the reception of a coin box. For this 'purpose I prefer to use a receiver Cin the form of a tubular cartridge having at its top end a head 20 through which is aninlet slot 2| opposite the slot I1 in the separating plate. As by means of a flaring flange22 depending from the separating plate, I provide a simple means for centering the cartridge in operative position relative thereto when the cartridge is installed in the machine. On oppOsite sides of the inlet slot 2| in the cartridge I provide holes 25 and 26 to receive depending pins 21 and 28, respectively, which are flxedly carried by the separating plate. The pin 21 extends downwardly a. lesser distance than does the pin 28, for ajreason which will shortly appear. Depending from the top head 2li of the cartridge is' a U-frame comprising spaced arms 3l connected at'the bottom by across bar 3| wherein is an elongated slot 32 in line with the inlet slotv 2| thereabove.

The frame is provided to mount a gate in the path of coins entering into the cartridge. For

, this purpose the two arms of the frame'may be formed with two sets of holes, opposite each pther, to provide bearings for the trunnions 35 of upper and lower rolls 36 in tandem arrangement which are thereby `mounted rotatably within the frame. Each roll is'formed with an elongated slot 31 extending diametrically therethrough, the slot in the upper roll being preferably widened at the top (see Figs. 10 and 12). Extending lateray from one end of'one roll is a lug` 38 and oppositely from the opDOSite end of the other roll is a lug 39, the two lugs beingso positioned as to register with the pins' 21 and 28 when the container is installed operatively in place. As by means of springs 40 which are coiled around a trunnion of each roll, a rotative force is constantly applied thereto so that the rolls will normally be turned to a gate closing position, such as is shown in Fig. 12, where the diametric slots 31 are out of line with each other and with the inlet slot 2| at the end of the cartridge. It is manifest that a coin starting downwardly through the inlet slot 2| will be blocked from proceeding further, and likewise any coins within the cartridge will be unable to pass reverselgy through the two rolls and through the inlet slot 2| so long as this closed condition of the gate continues. f

The pins 21`and 28 act as xed operating members to operate the gate. The position of these pins, and also their distances of projection into the cartridge is such as to produce engagement with the lugs 38 and 39 on the two rolls which are thereby turned through the necessary distance to align their slots 31 vertically with each other and with the inlet slot 2|. This is the open condition of the gate which is maintained so long as the cartridge remains operatively installed within the coin machine. The coins are then free to pass through the machine and in their descent to drop through the inlet slot 2| and past the gate so as to enter the cartridge and come to rest against the bottom thereof. Whenever the cartridge is removed from the machine', the rolls reassume their misaligned positions to close the gate, as suggested in Figure 12, thereby making it impossible for a person to insert a tool or implement for the purpose of extracting coins from the cartridge, even though the latter be inverted.

Furthermore, the cross bar 3| at the bottom of the frame will prevent manipulation of any tool that might be successfully forced past the gate, so that the coins within the cartridge will continueto remain protected. During normal operation, the coins dropping through the gate may or may not pass through the bar slot 32 this is unimportant, since they will otherwise be deected laterally to continue their descent past the edge of the bar.

As already indicated, the cartridge may be tubular with a circular cross section, as indicated clearly in Figures 5 and 6. It is provided with a closure head 45 at the bottom, desirably inset slightly as shown in Fig. 7. This head furnishes a mounting for a cylinder lock L which is flxedly secured thereto. The rotatable plug of the lockl mounts. at its inner end a plate 4-6 which turns therewith.

Fitted within the cartridge for rotation therewithin is a sleeve S which is open at the top and closed at its bottom by a wall 50 which is in fast connection with the plate 46 so as to be rotated in response to operation of the cylinder lock. This sleeve is formed with a lateral discharge opening 52 extending upwardly from a point adjacent its bottom and of a width which is perhaps 90. A similar lateral opening 55, in like position, is formed in the wall of the cartridge C of passing only when the cartridge is operatively installed within the coin machine, At such times the sleeve S occupies its closed position relative to the lateral opening of the cartridge so that the way is blocked for removal of any coins therefrom. When fitted operatively within the coin machine (see Fig. 4), it remains within a chamber 60, desirably cylindrical in contour, which is equipped with a door 6| in the form of a rotatable sleeve having a key operated lock 62. Except when a proper key is available for operating the lock, the cartridge is then fully protected from handling. When the sleeve door is opened the cartridge may be removed from its enclosing chamber within the machine, and in the process of its withdrawal the gate controlling passage of coins thereinto is automatically closed. It remains in this closed condition throughout the remaining steps of coin transferrence and until opened again by re-installation in the coin machine.

The container R to which transfer is made of coins accumulated in the cartridges of the machines comprised in the circuit, may be carried, or be mounted on wheels as shown in Fig. 1. This container is provided with a top closure 65 which, as shown, is hingedly connected as at 66 and locked at 61 to the container body. A tube T is xedly secured, as by welding, to the top closure 65. This tube is positioned obliquely to extend both above and below the container top. The upper tube end which may be reenforced by a bead 12 is formed with a bayonet slot having a longitudinal branch 13 and a lateral branch 14. A discharge opening 15 is formed laterally of the tube, on its under side, at a point interiorly of the container. Near its bottom is a transverse wall 16 and an adjacent ller plug 11 formed with a slot 18 which traverses the axis of the plug. Within this slot is accommodated the handle 80 of a key K whose bitted shank 8| is extended through a slot in the wall 16 to enter within the key hole 85 of the cylinder lock L. The positionlof the key is fixed as by a cross pin 86which traverses the key handle 80 and which isanchored within the filler plug 11, and also by a plurality of set screws 81 which are entered through radial openings therein to engage with the key handle at a number of points.

Afiixed to the cartridge is an outstanding boss 90 which is positioned and sized to enter within the open end of the bayonet slot when the cartridge is in correct rotative position for this purpose. The cartridge which is designed for reception within the tube T may advance there- A within to the point whereits boss 90 has traversed f the longitudinal branch of the bayonet slot,

so that, when the sleeve is rotated to the correct position, the two openings will be in register. The extent of sleeve movement necessary to reach this registering position is determined by the cylwhereupon the cartridge may be given a rotative movement. This movement is perhaps 90",l or even more. When the cartridge rst enters the bayonet slot, its .rotative position is such that the key hole in the lock at its opposite end will be positioned to receive the shank of the key. During inward movement of the cartridge the key is advanced within the lock so that by the time the boss has arrived at the bottom end of the 'branch 13 of the bayonet slot, the key will be positioned operatively with respect tothe cylinder lock. From and after this point the rotative movement of the cartridge, while the key remains xed, will operate the cylinder lock and thereby hold the sleeve S while movement of the cartridge continues. This turning movement proceeds a distance equal to the rotative movement of the cartridge which is just enough to bring into register the discharge openings 52 and 55 of the sleeve and cartridge, respectively. Since these discharge openings will then be disposed opposite the discharge opening l! of the tube, a passageway is now opened up for gravity discharge of all coins within the cartridge. When released into the containerjlthe coins will fall onto a deiiecting cone 92 along which they slide outwardly to points adjacent the container walls where they are free to drop down toward the bottom thereof.

Having emptied the contents of the cartridge into the container, according to the procedure just described, the cartridge is reversely operated so as to be withdrawn from the tube. In so doing, the sleeve is again operated back to its original position to close the discharge opening of the cartridge. In this condition the cartridge is then withdrawn from the tube, the key K disengaging therefrom to remain in its fixed position at'the bottom of the tubeT. The now empty cartridge, completely closed, is again readyy 'to be inserted within the vending machine, and

in the process its inlet slo-t is once more openedv through operation of its gate in response to engagement from the pins 2l and 28,-so that the coins which are thereafter deposited within the vending machine will lind their way into the cartridge as already described. l

Except when operatively-installed in a coin machine or in a container, the receiver of my invention is closed both as to its inlet andits outlet. In the-system of collection employed for removal of accumulated coins,from the mchines in a given circuit, the receivers when removed therefrom may be taken unopened to the cashiers oice; here a proper key may be applied to open each receiver so as to remove the coins therefrom without any transference to a container in the manner heretofore described. This procedure is optional, it being apparent that the receiver is well adapted to be employed either way. Since it is common practice to send collectors out to remove the accumulated coins from the machines in a given circuit, it is usually preferred that each collector carry with him a receiver into which the transferred coins are deposited. This receiver may be portable or otherwise. The one shown in Fig. 1 is of the mobile type which may be used to advantage in an area Where a plurality of parking meters are stationed relatively close to eachother. It will be understood, therefore, that the receiver may be used either way, and the appended claims should be 'interpreted accordingly when the language so permits.`

I claim:

l. A cylindrical coin receiving cartridge having end closures, a sleeve rotatably fitted within the cartridge, a cylinder lock affixed to one end closure of `the cartridge and provided with a rotatable plug, means connecting the rotatable plug fast with the sleeve, there being in the cartridge and sleeve discharge openings adapted to register only when the sleeve occupies a predetermined rotative position within the cartridge, and a key operable to rotate the plug of the cylinder lock 'y whereby to turn the sleeve within the cartridge to its predetermined position to permit the discharge of coins from the cartridge.

2. In anr apparatus of the class described, a coin receiving cartridge having an inlet end provided with a coin receiving slotfand a discharge end for the discharge of coins and adapted to have its inlet end inserted in a vcoin operated machneand its outlet or coin discharging end introerated members arranged in tandem together with means biasing each member to. blocking poi sition, requiring for their operation to open position simultaneous engagement with a pair of ixed actuating members.

V3. In an apparatus of the class described, a coin receiving cartridge having an inlet end provided with a coin receiving slot and a discharge end for the discharge vof coins and adapted to have its inlet end inserted in a coin operated machine and its outlet or coin discharging end introduced into a container, a U-shaped frame supported within the cartridge adjacentthe lcoin inlet slot having a cross bar opposite the inlet slot, a pair of slotted rollers arranged in tandem and mounted for independent rotative movement in the frame between the bar and the inlet slot, means biasing the rollers to rotative positionin which their slots are misaligned lwith respect to each other'and to the inlet slot, and means extended fromeach roller adapted to be operated by a iixed operating member in the coin operated machine whereby to rotate the roller to a position wherein its slot is aligned with the inlet slot, the two rollers, when operated simultaneously by said separate ixed-'operating members, then having their slots aligned with each other whereby to clear a passageway for movement of coins therethrough.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a coin receiving cartridge having an inlet end provided with a coin receiving slot and a discharge end for the discharge of coins and adapted to have its inlet end inserted in a coin operated machine and its outlet or coin discharging end introduced into a container, a lJ-frame supported within the cartridge 'adjacent the coin inlet slot and provided with a slotted cross bar opposite the inlet slot, a pair of slotted rollers arranged in tandem and mounted for independent rotative movement n the frame between the bar and inlet slot, means biasing the rollers to rotative positions in which their slots are misaligned with respect to each other and to the inlet and bar slots, and means extended from each roller adapted to be operated by a fixed operating member in the coin operated4 machine whereby to rotate the roller to a position wherein its slot is aligned with the inlet and bar slots, the two rollers, when operated simultaneously by said separate xed operating members, then havingtheir slots aligned with each other whereby to clear a passageway for movement oi',n

wall at its other end, and means connecting the rotatable plug fast with the end Wall of the sleeve, there being in the sleeve a lateral opening adapted to register with the discharge aperture of the cartridge when the sleeve occupies one rotative position relative to .the cartridge, the discharge opening of the cartridge being closed vwhen the sleve occupies another rotative position relative to the cartridge, said cylinder lock being adapted to engage a fixed key when the cartridge is inserted in a. container whereby the cylinder lock may be operated by rotary movement of the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted in the container.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a cylindrical coin receiving cartridge having a coin inlet end and an outlet end having a discharge aperture and adapted to be inserted in and removed from a coin operated machine and a normally closed container, a sleeve rotatably tted within the cartridge, a cylinder lock afiixed to the cartridge and provided with a rotatable plug and means for connecting the rotatable plug fast with the sleeve, said sleeve being vprovided with an opening adapted to register with the discharge aperture of the cartridge when the sleeve occupies a predetermined rotative position within the cartridge, said sleeve being also adapted in another position to close the discharge aperture of the cartridge.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a cylindrical coin receiving cartridge adapted to be inserted in and removed from a coin operated machine and a normally closed container and provided with end closures, ya sleeve rotatably -fltted Within the cartridge, a cylinder lock aixed to one end closure of the cartridge and provided with a rotatable plug, means connecting the rotatable plug fast with the sleeve, there being in the cartridge and the sleeve lateral discharge openings adapted to register only when the sleeve occu- 8 pies a predetermined rotative position Within the cartridge,.the other end closure of the cartridge being provided with a coin inlet.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a container provided with a tube fixed to the container and extending interiorly and exteriorly thereof and adapted to have inserted into it a coin receiving cartridge, said tube being provided in its exteriorly arranged portion with a slot composed of a longitudinally extending branch and a laterally extending branch, the interiorly arranged portion of the tube having a transverse wall and provided with a ller plug having an axially disposed slot, a key projecting inwardly from the transverse wall and having a handle portion arranged in the axial slot of the ller plug, and'means carried by the filler plug for engaging the handle .of the key for rigidly securing the key in its projecting position, said tube being also provided in its under side intermediate of its ends with a discharge opening located interiorly of the container.

ROBERT F. BROUSSARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the rile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

